How does the AFL now define holding the ball?

Rules are just made to complicate matters, particularly this rule. Discretion is the best policy for decisions on whether players are holding the ball. Fact of the matter is; if the umpire's view is obstructed the call will naturally be inconclusive. The context of the match is an important factor; which may make a referee's decision clearer or whether it will cloud there judgement or make them hesitant to award a free kick to the opposition. We all know players hold the ball. Whether it be in the dying seconds of a quarter when the side is inside their own 50 and clinging onto a small margin. In this case the umpire understands a player although doesn't want to- there is a case he is holding the call. But given the magnitude of the decision the umpire is reluctant to make such a big call which could heavily influence the game and impact the match's outcome.

I'd like to see them adopt rugbys rule where a player cant play the ball on the ground ie must get to his feet before playing at the ball and if you hold the ball in to the tackled player then you should be penalised then all players on the ground will keep their hands wide of the ball.... .

Agreed with abbz and Widget on disposal of the ball. As for umpires needing to make a decsion to clear the pack and keep the game flowing, why don't they just blow the whistle for a ball up earlier, rather than penalise a bloke on the bottom of the pack going the ball, 20m out from goal who often doesn't even have it anymore when the pack of players is disbanded. I agree with Kennoth, goals are just too hard to come by to be given away by umpires who don't have X-ray vision and can't see who has the ball in a pack of 8+ players.

Something needs to be done for sure...especially when a free is given close to goal. There is often "stacks on the mill" stuff and the ump pulls a free for very obscure reasons just to clear the pack. Two against one OK but that's it. Third tackler in Penalised. We don't want to see ugly rugby mauling packs spoiling our beautiful flowing game.

Something needs to be done for sure...especially when a free is given close to goal. There is often "stacks on the mill" stuff and the ump pulls a free for very obscure reasons just to clear the pack. Two against one OK but that's it. Third tackler in Penalised. We don't want to see ugly rugby mauling packs spoiling our beautiful flowing game.

hey widget i officially have an account

After recently completing an umpiring course, I have been told to follow these 2 points when interpreting the holding the ball rule. If an player have gains possession of the ball and is tackled without prior opportunity the must ATTEMPT to dispose of the ball. Whereas If an player has prior opportunity and is tackled the must dispose of the ball immediately. If a player does not follow these guide lines i have been told to award a free kick for holding the ball. My concern with this rule that is does not say anything about correct disposal of the ball, which I think umpires are forgetting about and letting players just throw the ball out when they are tackled.

Oh hi Widget good to see you are still righting articles. I was a bit let down by this one though. I Fitzy has been to many umpiring clinics and well I think that it is harder to tell whether the players are holding the ball in or not. The umpires are doing a dam good job i would like to see you out there doing any better.

Absolutely! On the one hand, umpires seem to be much more lax this season when assessing prior opportunity. On the other hand, there's much more onus on the player at the bottom of the pack to try and make an attempt to get rid of the ball. What frustrates me most about the second point is that it so often seems to come down to how quickly the umpire calls for a ball up, which seems pretty arbitrary.

I don't mind this idea at all Col. I don't really mind if there are two tacklers whilst the player is still on his feet, but once they are on the ground then if a player goes in to basically block any possible route for the ball to get out then they can be penalised. Am I right in saying that they do penalise now players for dragging the ball underneath their opponent? I know it isn't in the rules published above, but I thought I heard this earlier in the year?

I think Law 15.2.3 (a) should appy for all instances of 15.2.4 (a-e) not just c,d and e

The major problem I see surrounding the "holding the ball" rule this year is the increasing prevalence of the 2nd, and sometimes 3rd tackler in. The only reason why these players are getting involved in a tackle is to lock the ball in - the main thing the AFL is against. Yet it is the player who takes posession of the ball and is gang tackled, that is continually penalised for "holding the ball" in. Tackles need to be limited to one-on-one. That way, if a player takes posession of the ball, is tackled one-on-one, and doesnt dispose of the ball correctly or make an attempt when he has had no prior, then reward the tackler with a free kick. If a player takes posession of the ball and is tackled one-on-one, then a 2nd tackler gets involved, PENALISE the 2nd tackler, because the only reason why he is getting involved is to lock the ball in or stop the player in posession of the ball making a legitimate attempt to get rid of it. This would stop the rucks forming, encourage players to win the ball, reward tacklers for making effective tackles, make the holding the ball calls easier for the umps, whilst maintaining a high speed contest.

I agree there is inconsistency in the application of the 'Holding the Football' rule. I think it comes from a blurring of the distinction between players with 'Prior Opportunity' and those with 'No Prior Opportunity'. Players with 'Prior Opportunity' are let off if they 'make an attempt', when only players with 'No Prior Opportunity' are entitled to the 'made an attempt' get out clause. Players with 'Prior Opportunity' are also to easily let off because they are bumped or knocked and drop the ball. The AFL, I think rightly, is trying to stamp out players diving on the ball to avert a dangerous situation so I don't agree that should be allowed and is clearly against the current rules of the game. I've included the relevant sections of the 2012 Laws of AFL below for reference. 15.2.3 Holding the Football — Prior Opportunity/No Prior Opportunity Where the field Umpire is satisfied that a Player in possession of the football: (a) has had a prior opportunity to dispose of the football, the field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if the Player does not Kick or Handball the football immediately when they are Correctly Tackled; or (b) has not had a prior opportunity to dispose of the football, the field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if, upon being Correctly Tackled, the Player does not Correctly Dispose or attempt to Correctly Dispose of the football after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so. (c) Except in the instance of a poor bounce or throw, a Player who takes possession of the football while contesting a bounce or throw by a field Umpire or a boundary throw in, shall be regarded as having had prior opportunity. 15.2.4 Application — Specific Instances where Play shall Continue For the avoidance of doubt, the field Umpire shall allow play to continue when: (a) a Player is bumped and the football falls from the Player’s hands; (b) a Player’s arm is knocked which causes the Player to lose possession of the football; (c) a Player’s arms are pinned to their side by an opponent which causes the Player to drop the football, unless the Player has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply; (d) a Player, whilst in the act of Kicking or Handballing, is swung off-balance and does not make contact with the football by either foot or hand, unless the Player has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply; or (e) a Player is pulled or swung by one arm which causes the football to fall from the Player’s hands, unless the Player has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply. 15.2.5 Diving on Top of the Football Where a Player is in possession of the football by reason of diving on top of or dragging the football underneath their body, the field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if they do not immediately knock the football clear or Correctly Dispose of the football when Correctly Tackled. 15.2.6 F ootball Held to the Body of a Player The field Umpire shall bounce the football when a Player, in the act of applying a Correct Tackle, holds the football to the body of the Player being Tackled or the football is otherwise pinned to the ground, unless the Player being Tackled has had a prior opportunity to Correctly Dispose of the football, in which case Law 15.2.3 (a) shall apply.

100% agree it is confusing. Not sure how the AFL fix this as the classic intepretation of holding and dropping the ball have been ruled out of the game to keep it flowing. Ironicially the awarding of a free kick helps acheive this now rather than a rugby scrum forming.